Ricky Ponting Delivers Major Update On Rishabh Pant’s Captaincy Future After DC’s Crushing Loss To Mumbai Indians
May 22, 2022 at 11:25 AM
Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting has delivered a big update on Rishabh Pant’s captaincy future following the team’s loss to Mumbai Indians on Saturday (May 21). Delhi’s long wait for their first-ever IPL title has extended for at least one more season after the loss in their final league game. Delhi entered the match knowing that their fate was in their own hands, a luxury not many teams get at this stage of the competition.
A win against Mumbai would have been enough for them to enter the playoffs. However, Rishabh Pant & Co. failed to emerge victorious in the must-win clash as Mumbai handed them a crushing a 5-wicket loss. Delhi were just not at their best as Mumbai ended their hopes of entering the playoffs. Asked to bat first, Delhi made a disastrous start with the bat before recovering to post a challenging total of 159 for 7 in 20 overs.
Delhi bowlers then started well and had Mumbai Indians reeling at 95 for 3 in the 15th over. At that stage, Delhi were well on top and were looking set to register a win. However, hard-hitting batsman Tim David crushed their hopes by adding 50 runs for the fourth wicket in just 20 balls with Tilak Verma. The right-handed batsman smashed 34 off just 11 balls with the help of 4 sixes and 2 fours to break Delhi’s hearts. Mumbai eventually chased down the total with 5 balls remaining.
Ricky Ponting on Rishabh Pant’s future as captain:
Following the defeat, Ricky Ponting was asked about whether Pant would continue to lead the team especially after making a huge blunder against Mumbai. In the 15th over of the match, Pant decided against taking a review after Tim David nicked his very first ball of the innings and the on-field umpire did not raise his finger. Ponting, however, has ruled out any possibility of removing Pant as captain. The DC coach made it clear that there are no doubts over Pant’s future as the captain of the side.
“Absolutely, no doubt in my mind that Rishabh even in the last season he was the right choice for captain. Rishabh did a terrific job with the team after he took over from Shreyas (Iyer) after he injured his shoulders. He is just a young man and still learning captaincy. Being captain of a T20 team, especially in IPL, which is a high pressure tournament, is not easy thing to do and unfortunately, every single thing you do will be scrutinised. He certainly got my full backing,” said Ricky Ponting.